Move over, global giants: India's economy isn't just joining the top five with its $3.55 trillion GDP—it's sprinting there with a world-beating 8.2% growth rate, a tidal wave of foreign investment, and a digital payments revolution that sees its citizens making over 14 billion UPI transactions a month.
Key Takeaways
- India's nominal GDP for FY 2023-24 is estimated at ₹296.58 lakh crore (US$3.55 trillion), making it the fifth-largest economy globally.
- India's GDP growth rate for FY 2023-24 was 8.2%, the highest among major economies.
- India's per capita GDP in 2023 stood at US$2,410 (nominal) and US$8,379 (PPP).
- BSE Sensex closed at 81,188.90 on August 30, 2024.
- Nifty 50 index stood at 24,666.90 on August 30, 2024.
- Market capitalization of BSE-listed companies is ₹445 lakh crore as of August 2024.
- India's population is 1.428 billion as per UN 2023 estimate.
- Median age of India's population is 28.7 years in 2024.
- Urban population share is 36.4% (523 million) as of 2024.
- India's internet subscribers reached 881 million as of July 2024.
- Wireless broadband subscribers 1.16 billion (95% wireless) July 2024.
- UPI transactions hit 14.04 billion in July 2024, value ₹2.10 lakh crore.
- National highways length 146,145 km as of March 2024.
- Total road network 63.3 lakh km including rural roads (2024).
- Airports operational 157 with 1.5 million domestic passengers/month.
India's economy is robust, dynamic and growing faster than other major countries.
Demographics
- India's population is 1.428 billion as per UN 2023 estimate.
- Median age of India's population is 28.7 years in 2024.
- Urban population share is 36.4% (523 million) as of 2024.
- Literacy rate improved to 77.7% (NFHS-5 2019-21).
- Female literacy rate at 71.5% vs male 84.7% (NFHS-5).
- Labor force participation rate (LFPR) 57.9% for ages 15+ in 2023-24.
- Female LFPR rose to 41.7% in urban areas Q1 2024.
- Youth unemployment (15-29 years) at 10% in 2023-24 PLFS.
- Working population (15-59 years) constitutes 64.8% of total.
- Dependency ratio is 47.7% (2023 estimate).
- Sex ratio at birth improved to 929 females per 1000 males (NFHS-5).
- Total fertility rate declined to 2.0 (NFHS-5 2019-21).
- Life expectancy at birth is 70.8 years (2023 WHO).
- Infant mortality rate 27 per 1000 live births (SRS 2020).
- Migration rate internal is 29.9% (Census 2011 adjusted).
- Overseas Indian diaspora totals 32 million (MEA 2023).
- Share of working-age population peaks at 69% by 2036.
- Rural population 900 million (63%) in 2024.
- Households with internet access 52% (NSO 2023).
- Average household size 4.4 persons (NFHS-5).
- Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15 PPP fell to 12.9% (2022-23).
- Multidimensional poverty declined to 11.28% (2022-23).
Demographics Interpretation
India is a nation of immense, youthful potential where a giant's share of the working-age population is rapidly becoming more literate, connected, and urbanized, yet it must urgently harness this dividend by creating enough jobs and closing persistent gender gaps before its demographic window begins to shut.
Economy
- India's nominal GDP for FY 2023-24 is estimated at ₹296.58 lakh crore (US$3.55 trillion), making it the fifth-largest economy globally.
- India's GDP growth rate for FY 2023-24 was 8.2%, the highest among major economies.
- India's per capita GDP in 2023 stood at US$2,410 (nominal) and US$8,379 (PPP).
- Inflation rate (CPI) in India averaged 5.5% in FY 2023-24.
- Fiscal deficit for FY 2023-24 was targeted at 5.9% of GDP, revised to 5.6%.
- India's foreign exchange reserves reached US$651.5 billion as of June 2024.
- Current account deficit narrowed to 1.2% of GDP in FY 2023-24.
- India's gross value added (GVA) growth was 7.2% in FY 2023-24 at constant prices.
- Services sector contributes 54.72% to India's GDP in FY 2023-24.
- Industrial sector share in GDP is 28.7% for FY 2023-24.
- Agriculture and allied sectors contribute 16.59% to GVA in FY 2023-24.
- India's Ease of Doing Business rank improved to 63rd in 2020 (latest available).
- FDI inflows into India reached US$84.8 billion in FY 2023-24.
- Merchandise exports grew by 13.8% to US$437.1 billion in FY 2023-24.
- Services exports surged 17.4% to US$323.4 billion in FY 2023-24.
- Trade deficit widened to US$240.2 billion in FY 2023-24.
- Unemployment rate (PLFS) was 3.2% in urban areas for April-June 2024.
- India's corporate tax rate was reduced to 22% for existing companies post-2019 reforms.
- GST collections averaged ₹1.68 lakh crore per month in FY 2023-24.
- Public sector capital expenditure targeted at ₹11.11 lakh crore in FY 2024-25.
- Private consumption expenditure grew 4% in FY 2023-24.
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation (investment) at 31.3% of GDP in FY 2023-24.
- Repo rate maintained at 6.5% by RBI as of August 2024.
- CRR stands at 4.5% as per RBI policy in 2024.
- India's sovereign credit rating is BBB- (stable) by S&P as of 2024.
- Rupee depreciated 1.4% against USD in FY 2023-24.
- Gold reserves held by RBI are 840 tonnes as of 2024.
- Remittances to India reached US$129 billion in FY 2023-24.
- India's share in global GDP (PPP) is 7.4% in 2024.
- Projected GDP growth for FY 2024-25 is 7.0% per RBI.
Economy Interpretation
India stands as the world’s fifth-largest economy, growing at a blistering pace for its size, yet it remains a land of profound contrasts where gleaming service exports and bulging forex reserves coexist with a humble per capita income that reminds us the fruits of this boom are still ripening for the average citizen.
Finance
- BSE Sensex closed at 81,188.90 on August 30, 2024.
- Nifty 50 index stood at 24,666.90 on August 30, 2024.
- Market capitalization of BSE-listed companies is ₹445 lakh crore as of August 2024.
- NSE's total market cap reached ₹437 lakh crore in August 2024.
- FII net investment in Indian equities was ₹2.67 lakh crore YTD August 2024.
- DII net buying in equities stood at ₹3.49 lakh crore YTD August 2024.
- IPOs raised ₹1.73 lakh crore in CY 2024 till August.
- Mutual fund AUM grew to ₹67.85 lakh crore as of July 2024.
- SIP inflows reached ₹25,323 crore in July 2024.
- Bank credit growth slowed to 15.8% YoY in July 2024.
- NPAs in banking sector declined to 2.6% of gross advances in FY 2023-24.
- Deposits growth in scheduled commercial banks at 11.5% YoY July 2024.
- Housing finance portfolio grew 25% YoY to ₹10 lakh crore in 2024.
- Gold loan AUM of banks and NBFCs at ₹3.5 lakh crore in 2024.
- Corporate bond market size is ₹55 lakh crore outstanding as of March 2024.
- G-Sec yields for 10-year at 6.87% as of August 2024.
- Insurance penetration in India is 4.2% of GDP in FY 2023-24.
- Life insurance premium income at ₹3.41 lakh crore in FY 2023-24.
- General insurance gross premium at ₹2.40 lakh crore in FY 2023-24.
- Pension funds AUM reached ₹10.7 lakh crore by June 2024.
- Stock market P/E ratio for Nifty 50 is 22.5x as of August 2024.
- Forex turnover in India averaged $55 billion daily in 2023.
- Derivatives turnover on NSE was ₹1,200 lakh crore in FY 2023-24.
- Equity cash segment turnover ₹200 lakh crore in FY 2023-24.
Finance Interpretation
India's financial engine is roaring with record-breaking investment and market values, yet it still hums with the cautious, steady rhythm of a nation building its future brick by brick, loan by loan.
Infrastructure
- National highways length 146,145 km as of March 2024.
- Total road network 63.3 lakh km including rural roads (2024).
- Airports operational 157 with 1.5 million domestic passengers/month.
- Railway network spans 68,584 km electrified (99.8% BR routes).
- Freight loading on Indian Railways 1,591 MT in FY 2023-24.
- Installed power capacity 446 GW as of July 2024.
- Renewable energy capacity 153 GW (40% share) July 2024.
- Ports handle 1,439 MT cargo in FY 2023-24.
- Sagarmala projects 802 completed till 2024.
- Metro rail network 980 km operational in 21 cities (2024).
- Housing for All (PMAY) sanctioned 4.2 crore houses by 2024.
- Smart Cities Mission 100 cities, 7,000+ projects worth ₹1.8 lakh crore.
- BharatNet Phase II connects 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats.
- Dedicated Freight Corridors 3,381 km operational (2024).
- Airport capacity expansion to 300 MPPA by 2025.
- Inland waterways 11,000 km navigable, NW-1 fully operational.
- LPG connections under Ujjwala 10.3 crore as of 2024.
- Rural electrification 100% villages by April 2018, sustained.
- Jal Jeevan Mission covers 75% rural households with tap water (2024).
- Industrial production index (IIP) grew 5.9% in FY 2023-24.
- Steel production 143 MT in FY 2023-24.
- Cement production 405 MT in FY 2023-24.
Infrastructure Interpretation
India's infrastructure, from its bustling ports and vast railway network to its electrified villages and modern metro systems, is stitching together a powerhouse economy while literally wiring the nation's ambitions from the Himalayas to its 2.5 lakh gram panchayats.
Technology
- India's internet subscribers reached 881 million as of July 2024.
- Wireless broadband subscribers 1.16 billion (95% wireless) July 2024.
- UPI transactions hit 14.04 billion in July 2024, value ₹2.10 lakh crore.
- Digital payments value reached ₹247 lakh crore in FY 2023-24.
- India has 974 million active internet users as of 2024.
- Smartphone penetration 74% among internet users (2024).
- 5G subscribers crossed 130 million by June 2024.
- Data consumption per user 24 GB/month in 2024.
- Startup ecosystem ranks 3rd globally with 118,000 startups (2024).
- Unicorns in India total 118 as of August 2024.
- IT exports from India $194 billion in FY 2023-24.
- Indian IT industry employs 5.4 million people (direct) 2024.
- E-commerce GMV projected $350 billion by FY 2026.
- Fintech startups 9,000+ in India (2024).
- ONDC transactions 9.4 crore in FY 2023-24.
- Semiconductor design market $50 billion by 2030 target.
- IndiaAI Mission allocates ₹10,000 crore for AI compute.
- EV sales 1.52 million units in CY 2023.
- Solar capacity installed 85 GW as of June 2024.
- Drone market size $1.8 billion by 2025 projected.
- Blockchain patents filed by India 1,000+ since 2016.
- Rural internet users 400 million (2024).
Technology Interpretation
India is a nation where nearly a billion people, many on just a phone, are collectively building a digital economy so vast and innovative that it’s like watching a traditional bazaar seamlessly morph into a sci-fi marketplace.
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